Material for filling mattresses



No Model.) CHASE.

MATERIAL FOR FILLING MATTRESSES, PILLOWS, am. No. 309,523. Patented Dec.23,, 1884:.

ivrrnn TATFS ATIENT rrcn.

LORENZO CHASE, OF PORTLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO \VILLIAM. H.

SCOTT, OF DEERING, MAINE.

MATERIAL FOR FILLING MATTRESSEQ PILLOWS, &G.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 309,523, dated December23, 1884:.

To (6 whom it 72mg concern.-

Be it known that I, LORENZO Crmsn, of Portland, in the county ofCumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in ll'Iat-crial for Filling illattrcsses, Pillows, &c.; andI do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in theart to-which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 shows a view of a piece of birchbarlc. Fig. 2 is a view of thesame when divided into strips. Fig. 8 is a view of the strips whencurled by heat.

Same letters show like parts.

My invention relates to the production of a new and useful article inthe way of pillows, mattresses, sofas, &c.

My invention consists in the process of treating birch-bark, so as torender it useful in the manufacture of mattresses, pillows, and all sucharticles, and also in the product of such process, to wit: thesearticles themselves when manufactured.

In carrying out my process I first take the white or nearly white outerbark from the white-birch tree, in strips of such dimensions as may beconvenient in strippin This birch I then submit to the action of twogrooved rolls, one above the other. The projections of each roll iitinto the spaces between the projections of the other. The birch. isdrawn in between these two grooved rolls, and by their action divided orstripped into long narrow bands of the desired width. This width is ofcourse controlled by the rolls and their spaces. \Vhcn the bark has thusbeen stripped, I then submit the necessary quantity of it for anyparticular purpose to the action of heat, both to curl it up andinterlock the different strips, and to form the whole mass into thedesired form. I perform this stcpiu my process by placing the desired orrequisite qnantity of the strips into a pan or vessel of the form intowhich I desire to shape the whole mass of the strips. The action of heatto curl white-birch bark is familiar, as well as its tendency to causeseveral fibers or strips to interlock. This is the object I aim toaccomplish by heat, and the effect is satisfactorily produced thereby. Ithen have my strips intermingled and intertwined, like hair orexcclsior. They then form a coherent mass well locked together. Thestrips or ribbons will be found hooked into each other, so as not tooeasily to pull apart.

It I desire to make a mattress, then my heating-pan is of that form; ifa pillow, then ot'a different form. The form of the object into whichthe birch is to enter controls the form of the heating or curling-pan. Ithen have my stripped and curled-up birch fit to enter into themanufacture of mattresses, pillows, and all kindred articles, to takethe place of hair, &c.

I will specify that I have the further object of utilizing in thismanner the well-known medicinal properties of this bark. It has longbeen known to be a very highly efiica cious remedy by externalapplication for rheumatisni and analogous complaints, as well as forcertain cutaneous diseases, and for many others not necessary to beenumerated. sufficient to say that I propose in this way to avail myselfof the curative virtues of this vegetable growth, by having persons thuslying upon it and brought into prolonged contact with it. Furthermore,it makes an exceedingly soft, elastic, dry, and fragrant bed or pillow.It is a preventive to the :accumu lation and propagation of disagreeableor offensive insects.

I do not limit myself to the forming of the mass of strips or ribbons tothe shape of the pan merely. I reserve the right to curl the strips in amass and in any form or shape.

In the accompanying drawings,-a shows a piece ofbark as taken from thetree. I) shows the same after being divided into ribbons or strips. 0shows the same after having been subjected to the action of heat.

XV hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States, 1 4- I. The process of producing a white-birch Itis- 5 heat in a cur1ing-pan, to curl up the strips and i two witnesses.

bark stnfling for mattresses, &c., which con- I curled, and interlockedribbons of birch, as sists in first stripping the bark into longnarherein set forth.

row ribbons or bands, then subjecting the In testimony that I claim theforegoing as bands or ribbons in quantities to the action of my own Iaffix my signature in presence of interlock the same so as to form theminto a LORENZO CHASE.

coherent mass, as herein set forth. Witnesses:

2. The article of manufacture herein de- WILLIAM HENRY CLIFFORD,scribed, to wit: a mattress, pillow, &c., the CHAS. H. KIMBAL Iostuffing or filling of which is made of stripped,

